2014: The Year in Film: "Edge of Tomorrow" Review

Guys, yes, Tom Cruise is a weirdo. An unrelenting, utterly strange weirdo with indefensible beliefs and a penchant for acting like a spaz. HOWEVER, he's also really talented and charismatic in the old-school movie star way, wherein every character he plays is just a shade of Tom Cruise rather than a discernible and separate person, and that can be fine and work really well in its own way. I'll say this: Tom Cruise has never been the problem in any of his various movies, no matter whether the flick is good (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Minority Report, etc.) or bad (War of the Worlds, Mission Impossible 2), Tom Cruise is going to give you what you signed up for, a workmanlike, dependable, yeoman's effort.  I respect that, and so should you.

So enter: "Edge of Tomorrow", an adaptation of a Japanese book titled "All You Need is Kill" (MUCH better title, btw) where a soldier finds himself forced to re-live the same battle over and over in "Groundhog Day" fashion. Tom Cruise is Major William Cage, a cocky military communications officer who finds himself conscripted into a combat battalion on the eve of a huge and potentially decisive battle with invading aliens on the French coast. These aliens are seemingly unbeatable, and humanity has managed just one victory against them, led by a mysterious (and very badass) woman named Rita. (Emily Blunt) Tom Cruise finds himself living this day over and over again as he struggles to find a way to defeat the alien invaders.

The Good: Despite the video game-esque premise, the film is actually executed pretty darn well, and the conceit of Tom Cruise getting better and better at fighting the aliens with each incarnation is an entertaining and effective one.  Considering that Cruise having chemistry with his co-stars seems to be a hit-or-miss proposition, he gets on with Emily Blunt very well, and they make quite an effective pair, with Blunt as the hardened soldier and Cruise as the novice.  The action sequences are chaotic but well-crafted and visually very impressive, with the film doing a pretty strong job of depicting what a future war with aliens could well look like. The film is surprisingly touching in spots, far smarter and more entertaining than it should be, and has a sense of fun and humor throughout, taking advantage of what could be a limiting premise to really explore and flesh out the ramifications.



The Bad; there is one BIG bad element that honestly knocked this flick down from one of my favorites of the year to merely a smart and effective sci-fi action flick... and that's the ending. I'm not sure who decided that audiences in 2014 are unable to handle an ending that doesn't neatly tie together with a ribbon, but it feels cheap, out of place, and like a lazy deus ex machina. Additionally, the notion that Cruise is a Major thrust into combat as a raw recruit is never explained, and feels like an add-on to explain why a 40 year old guy is battling with grunts. However, these are relatively minor complaints, and the flick is well worth watching if you're a fan of sci-fi action flicks.

Surprisingly smart, well-made, touching and entertaining, this Groundhog's Day with guns and aliens actually manages to be a worthwhile addition to the sci-fi canon. If it wasn't for a cop-out ending, it might just be a classic.

8/10.